[How Firm a Foundation] CreationSample

Order and design in a good creation

The fact that God is the absolute reality and is sovereign over His creation is good news because if you or I were sovereign, the world would be in big trouble. Look at the world and see the mess that human beings have made with the power they have. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we had absolute authority and power in the same way God does? It would be a living nightmare. Be thankful that God is sovereign and we’re not. Nothing can happen outside of His control. “In the beginning, God…” is one of the great foundational truths. But there’s more.

Genesis 1:1–2 informs us that God made the heavens and earth “without form and void,” and that darkness covered the primordial waters. On days one through three, God separated and formed three main spheres: light and darkness, the heavens and primordial water, the seas, and dry land (Genesis 1:3–13). And on days four through six, he filled the newly formed spheres with creatures suitable to their habitats: the heavenly bodies to govern the day and the night, birds to fly above the earth, fish to swarm in the sea, and land animals—with the high point being the creation of humanity in God’s image (Genesis 1:14–26).

The design and order in creation point to a grand designer. This designer formed and filled His newly created cosmos with creatures, assigning each its identity and purpose. The design and order observed in creation give us the basis for modern science. This may be surprising, as we are often told that science is antithetical to the biblical teaching of creation. But this is simply not the case. God created humanity to grow in understanding of the world. He created us to be scientists! The scientific method only makes sense if the creation was designed in a rational, orderly fashion. Otherwise, there is no reason to believe that physical laws will function the same in different places or times, or that mathematics will produce consistent, accurate results. Without the biblical worldview, every assumption of science and rationality is undermined. The design and order observed in creation provide the basis for human flourishing.

How marvelous it is to see all that You have done! I wonder at Your creation, at its beauty and complexity.